I Support This NDP Bill

For servers, not owners


People leave tips in restaurants as a thank you for good service and in recognition that the servers, who are usually paid a low hourly wage, rely on tips to supplement their incomes. Tips generally aren’t intended for the owner or manager. But, unfortunately, that’s just who receives a significant portion of the tips in some restaurants.

In an effort to ban these “tip-outs” to owners and managers, NDP MPP Michael Prue has introduced a private member’s bill in the Ontario Legislature. And, in an rare show of unanimity at Queen’s Park, representatives of all three political parties spoke favourably about the bill as it was given second reading last week.

The bill would not affect the more common practice of servers sharing a portion of their tips with fellow workers who assist them, such as busboys and bartenders.

It is difficult to gauge the extent of tip-outs to restaurant management, but there are troubling indications that the practice is growing as businesses struggle with the economic downturn and try to recoup some of their costs due to higher minimum wages. Passing Prue’s bill would put a welcome brake on this practice.